What does the Cowardly Lion want from the Wizard?

He wants courage, because he is ashamed that the King of Beasts is afraid of everything. The Wizard gives him a green liquid in a dish and says it will make him brave.

Is the Cowardly Lion really a coward in the book?

No, he acts bravely many times while still feeling frightened. He fights the Kalidahs, carries his friends across a ravine and later kills a giant spider to protect the forest animals.

What happens to the Cowardly Lion at the end of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?

Glinda’s Winged Monkeys carry him back to the great forest. The animals there have already made him their king after he defeats the spider.

From The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Cowardly Lion

King of beasts • Seeking true courage

A giant roaring lion who wishes for courage, not knowing how brave he already is.

Who is Cowardly Lion?

The Cowardly Lion is a huge golden lion with a mighty roar who secretly feels scared whenever danger is near. After Dorothy scolds him for trying to snap at Toto, he joins the group to ask the Wizard for courage. Even with shaking knees, he carries his friends across a deep ravine and later leads them bravely through a dark forest.

Cowardly Lion is a character in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum, retold for ages 6–9 by Sean Lee.

What is Cowardly Lion like?

gentle
honest
brave

Cowardly Lion’s story

The Lion first leaps out of the forest roaring at Dorothy and her friends, but he only pretends to be fierce. When Dorothy slaps his nose, he starts to cry and admits that he is afraid of everything. He joins the travelers because he hopes the Wizard will give him courage.

On the road he proves braver than he thinks. He faces the two Kalidahs, fierce creatures with bear bodies and tiger heads, so that his friends can escape across a tree bridge. In the poppy field he falls asleep, and the Field Mice have to pull his heavy body out on a little truck. Later the Wicked Witch of the West tries to make him pull her carriage, but he refuses, and Dorothy secretly feeds him.

The Wizard gives him a dish of green liquid to drink and calls it courage. The Lion drinks it and feels brave at once. After Dorothy leaves, he returns to the forest. He defeats a giant spider that frightens the animals and is crowned King of Beasts.

“as long as I know myself to be a coward I shall be unhappy.”

The Cowardly Lion, explaining why he wants courage. From the original 1900 novel by L. Frank Baum.

A moment to remember

At a wide, rocky ravine, the Lion admits he is nervous but leaps across anyway, carrying each friend safely to the other side one at a time.

Dorothy Gale: stood up to him and became his friend
Scarecrow: traveling companion
Tin Woodman: traveling companion
The Wizard of Oz: gives him a drink of courage
The Wicked Witch of the West: tried to make him her servant

Talk about it

The Lion felt scared but did brave things anyway. Can you remember a time you felt nervous and tried something brave?

Questions about Cowardly Lion

What does the Cowardly Lion want from the Wizard?: He wants courage, because he is ashamed that the King of Beasts is afraid of everything. The Wizard gives him a green liquid in a dish and says it will make him brave.
Is the Cowardly Lion really a coward in the book?: No, he acts bravely many times while still feeling frightened. He fights the Kalidahs, carries his friends across a ravine and later kills a giant spider to protect the forest animals.
What happens to the Cowardly Lion at the end of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?: Glinda’s Winged Monkeys carry him back to the great forest. The animals there have already made him their king after he defeats the spider.